Dispensing carton



March 16, 1943. K. 1-. BUTTERY DISPENSING CARTON Filed June 12, 1941 INVENTOR flz/ffe/v AjTikNEYs.

Patented Mar. 16, 1943 msransma cAn'roN Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Micla, asslg'nor Sutherland Paper Company,-,'

Mich.

Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 391,113 '4 Claims. (01. 229-11) This invention relates to improvements in dispensing cartons.

The main object of this invention is to provide a dispensing carton which may be provided with walls having end closure flaps which may be closed by folding one upon the other, certain of the flaps being provided with pouring spout portions or walls which may be readily adjusted to pouring position or collapsed to reclose the carton and effectively retained in reclosing position.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the" accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a closed carton embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the closure flaps in partially closed position, the outer flap being open.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing further closing steps.

Fig'. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view with the spout open.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one of the steps or stages of reclosing the carton.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the carton in reclosed position.

to the flap I! to its flexing connection to its wall as clearly shown in the blank, see also Figs. 1 and 2. The flap 12 has an angular slit l6 extending from the flexible connection for the flap l2 to the flap--9 and to the flexing wall connection of The portion ll of the outer closure member 9 within the fracturing zone l5 constitutes a spout wall, while the portion it within the slit i6 of the flap l2 constitutes a coacting spout wall, these Wall portions being flexibly joined by the flexing erected and also providing a keeper with which Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton illustrated is formed.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is of the carton type such as commonly used for foods and the like, being made up of a. blank I of fibrous carton or container stock. This blank comprises side wall portions 2, 2 and end wall portions 3, 3 joined by flexing connections 4 resulting from scoring, as is common practice. The sealing flap 5 at one end is joined to its adjacent wall by the flexing scoring 4. .The bottom flaps 6, 6 and l, l are flexingly joined to the lower ends of the walls, the scoring being indicated at 8. The top closure flaps 9, l0, H and I! are also flexingly joined to the walls as by scoring indicated at 8.

The outer side closure flap 9 is joined to the end closure flap I! by a flexing connection l3 extending a substantial portion of the width of these flaps, the flexing. connection being formed by Jcoring. The slit ll extends from the endof the flexing connection [3 to the outer edges ofthe .flaps. This outer flap 9 has an angular fracturing zone It extending from its flexing connection the tucking member or detent portions of the spout walls engage when the carton is reclosed, see Figs. 5 and 6.

The diagonal folding or scoring line 20 of the pouring spout wall portion l 8 serves a double purpose in that it permits folding of the spout wall to provide the retaining detent or tucking element, and also permits the folding of this portion of the closure flap as indicated in Fig. 3 to permit the closing and sealing of the outer closure member. In this arrangement the closure members II and I2 constitute the inner closure members, the closure flap Ill the intermediate member, and the closure flap 9 the outer closure member. The recess 2| is of less dimension than the flap wall portion ll of the outer wall so this portion is effectively supported when the carton is sealed, that is, the fracturing zone is not likely to be accidentally broken or fractured.

The dispensing carton of this invention is very economical to produce. It can be readily opened and adjusted to provide a pouring spout and quickly reclosed, and when closed the spout is effectively retained in closed position.

The invention is illustrated and described in a practical commercial embodiment thereof. No

attempt has been made to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations which are possible for different shapes and styles of cartons as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thusdescribed the invention what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing carton comprising walls hav-' ing closure flaps flexingly joined thereto, the closure flap of one wall constituting an intermediate closure member, -t-he closure flap of the opposite wall constituting the outer closure memher, the closure flap of another wall constituting an inner closure member, the outer closure member being joined to the inner closure member by a flexing connection and having an angular fracturing zone extending from such flexing connection to said inner closure member to its flex ing wall connection, its portion within said fracturing zone constituting a pouring spout wall, said inner closure member having an angular slit extending from its said flexing connection to said outer closure flap to its flexing wall connection, its portion within said slit constituting a pouring spout wall coacting with the pouring spout wall of said outer closure member to provide a pouringspout, said pouring spout walls being diagonally scored permitting folding of 'adjaeent triangular portions thereof inwardly to provide a tucking element projecting into the carton when the pouring spout is in carton-closing position, the slitting and scoring of the spout wall portion of the inner closure member also permitting the adjustment of the inner and outer closure members to carton closing position, the intermediatev closure flap having a recess in the corner thereof of smaller size than said fracturing zone, said recess underlying the said spout wall portions and constituting a pouring openingwhen the spout portions are in extended position, said recess having an inner corner constituting keeper means for said tucking element when the spout is collapsed for reclosing the carton, with said tucking element projecting into the carton.

2. A dispensing carton comprising walls having closure flaps flexingly joined thereto, the closure flap of one wall constituting the intermediate closure member, the closure flap of the opposite wall constituting the outer closure inember, the closure flap of another wall constituting an inner closure member, the outer closure member being joined to the inner closure member by a flexing connection and having a fracturing zone extending from such flexing connection to said inner closure member to its flexing wall connection, its portion within said fracturing zone constituting a pouring spout wall, said inner closure member having a slit extending from its said flexing connection to said outer closure flap to its flexing wall connection, its portion within said slit constituting a pouring spout wall coacting with the pouring spout wall of said outer closure member toprovide a pouring spout, said pouring spout walls being scored permitting folding of adjacent portions thereof inwardly to provide a tucking element projecting into the carton when the pouring spout is in carton-closing position, the intermediate closure flap having a recess in the corner thereof of smaller size than said fracturing zone, said recess underlying the said spout portions and constituting a pouring opening when the spout portions are in extended position, an

edge of the recess constituting keeper means for such flexing connection to the flexing connection.

of said outer member to its wall, its portion within said fracturing zone constituting a pouring spout wall, said second member having an angular slit extending from its flexing connection to said outerclosure flap to its flexing wall connection, its portion within said slit constituting a pouring spout wall coacting with the pouring spout wall of said outer closure member to provide a pouring spout, said pouring-spout walls Y being diagonally scored permitting folding of adjacent triangular portions thereof inwardly to provide a tucking element projecting into the carton when the pouring spout is in carton-closing position, the scoring of the spout wall of said second closure member also permitting the folding of such member and said outer member to carton closing position, and a third closure flap having-an opening therein of smaller size than said fracturing zone, said opening underlying the said spout portions and constituting a pouring opening when the spout portions are in extended position, an edge thereof constituting a keeper member for said tucking element when the spout is collapsed for reclosing the carton, with said tucking element projecting into the carton.

4. .A dispensing carton comprising walls having closure flaps flexlngly joined .thereto, the closure flap of" one wall constituting the outer closure member, the closure flap of an adjacent wall being joined to said outer closure member by a flexing connection, said outer closure flap having a fracturing zone extending from such flexing connection to the flexing connection of said outer member to its wall, its portion within said fracturing zone constituting a pouring spout wall, said second member having a slit extending from its said flexing connection to said outer closure'flap to its flexing wall connection, its portion within said slit constituting a pouring spout wall coasting with the pouring spout wall of said outer closure member to provide a pouring spout, said closure spout walls havingflexing zones permitting the folding of adjacent portions thereof inwardly to provide a tucking element projecting into the carton when the pouring spout is in carton-closing position, and a third closure flap having an opening therein of smaller size than said fracturing zone, said opening underlying the said spout portions and constituting a pouring opening when the spout wall portions are in extended position, an edge thereof constituting a keeper member for said tucking element when the spout is collapsed for reclosing the carton, with said tucking element projecting into the carton.

KENNETH T. BUI'I'ERY. 

